Old and Middle English

Posted: January 14th, 2014

lfric, Wulfstan, and the author of Hail Me had are all writers on religious topics, but their work
often reflects the close interaction of church and state in the medieval world. Pick one of their texts and
write an essay on how non-religious historical, social, and/or political issues shape their work. What is
happening in the world that makes these authors say what they do about their particular topic? Do you
think religious doctrine is shaping the social world around this text, or is society shaping doctrine?